| September 03, 2008 | Wednesday | Ramazan 2, 1429 |
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Hike in power tariff
Remembering Faraz
Zardari should declare his assets
The fate of America’s friends
Daylight saving time
Sectarian harmony
Price rise
Nation’s wisdom
Respecting teachers
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
EVER since that fateful decision by Pakistan way back in 1948 to ally itself with the United States of America, it has played dual, often antagonistic and at times devilish roles on the global stage. Its geostrategic location has ensured, perhaps unfortunately, that it assumes a pivotal role in all regional conflicts.
Despite being a part of western defence pacts like Seato and Cento, Pakistan was left to fend for itself when it took on its neighbouring rival in 1965 and 1971.
Its international relations’ policies made the Soviet Union into an enemy it could very well have done without. It was thus that Pakistan was forced to fight America’s war in Afghanistan to ward off the threat of communism which had assumed a national significance for it.
It was with the patronage of the Pakistani government that peace was brought to war-ravaged Afghanistan through the installation of locally bred and groomed Taliban. Little did we know during the mid-1990s that we would be asked to dismantle the government which we had lodged in place a couple of years down the road.
With the unleashing of the war on terror, Pakistan was again a frontline state tasked with the humungous assignment of obliterating all traces of the Afghan rulers which it had so painstakingly worked to install.
Seven years down the line, the combined forces of Nato seem unable to stem the tide of discontent and unease which is taking the Afghan nation by storm.
Frequent attempts to rein in political sentiment in the war-torn nation have proved futile, with the result that Hamid Karzai cannot venture outside the capital and proclaim his right to rule. Small chieftains have defied the biggest superpower. Frequent suicide blasts have taken millions of lives.
As bodies of dead Americans wrapped in the stars and stripes are flown home by the dozens each week, more and more Americans are beginning to realise that they have been unwilling participants in a war which they never agreed to be a part of.
Dying for a cause which was blown to smithereens the moment mounting evidence of vested interests surfaced, the American nation has realised that they had been befooled by popular patriotic sentiment which was played to the utmost advantage by the Bush administration.
Perhaps, the decision by the American nation to oust the Republicans out of power is a proactive manifestation of their discontent.
With the Democrats all set to take over the White House come November, Pakistan, it seems, will now be asked to dance to a different set of tunes. Politics of reconciliation with the Taliban will now rule the roost at least for the next few years. Pakistan, for the third time in recent history, will again be a frontline state.
Like in a game of chess, Pakistan is but a mere pawn. Being a frontline state inadvertently necessitates that it should become the first casualty in any game. Pawns are after all, the first lines of offence and defence.
To placate the Afghans will be no mean feat, especially for a nation like ours which has done more than its fair share in appeasing the western nations. Any attempts will be viewed with hostility but what would be interesting to note is how and when Pakistan is given the ultimatum: with us or against us.
Past experience is sufficient proof of our would-be acquiescence but what remains to be seen is the identity of the first casualty of this expected paradigm shift. Astute analysts have observed that a military dictator seems to suit American interests very well whenever Pakistan is called upon to play the role of a frontline state.
With the collapse of the coalition, the stage is all set for Ashfaq Kayani to wear the mantle of a dictator. It seems that our attempt at sham democracy is just not destined to succeed. So, let the drums roll to herald another era of US-Pakistan relationship.
AYESHA ARIF BAWANY
Karachi
AFTER reading the news, ‘Power tariff to be raised by 31 per cent’ (Aug 31), the hapless public must have realised that increasing the prices of public consumption items in the beginning of the holy month of Ramazan is not only the trader’s or businessman’s forte, as this time the government taking advantage of the occasion’s sanctity has also increased power tariff by 31 per cent.
Instead of giving some relief on account of reduction in world oil prices and recent rationalisation of pricing formulae, such an incredibly high jump in the tariff, that too at the time when the public is already crushed under the pressure of super-inflation, is mindboggling.
In the same report the finance minister has also announced a relief package worth Rs1.7 billion: subsidising the prices of 1,300 items, sold through 4,700 Utility Stores Corporation outlets.
Does the minister appreciate the fact that hardly 10 to 20 per cent people of big cities avail themselves of this assistance? What about the majority of people living in small towns, villages and hamlets of rural areas.
The sudden rise of electricity bills at a time when people are suffering from severe power outages will not only affect every household in the country but will also hamper industrial growth.
The government decision of increasing the electric tariff at this critical phase of socio-economic upheaval, instead of slashing wasteful expenditure on administration, foreign trips of dignitaries, etc, is mindless and brutal. I hope the finance minister should reconsider his decision and cut down unnecessary expenditure to fill the gap as a substitute to tariff increase.
SHAFQAT HUSSAIN QURESHI
Hyderabad
(II)
AFTER announcement of increase in the power tariff by 31 per cent the prime minister appeared before the media as reported, ‘PM defends removal of subsidies’ (Sept 1).
While justifying this unjustified step, the PM said that the government was taking bold decisions to phase out subsidies in order to rehabilitate the economy.
In fact, it is not the bold decision but the decision taken under the pressure of the World Bank and IMF: that instead of giving some relief to the poor on account of reduction in world oil prices and recent rationalisation of pricing formulae, such an incredibly high increase in the tariff has been made.
The courage, on the contrary, would have been to resist and not accept all conditions lying down.
Thus sudden increase in electricity charges at a time when people are experiencing severe power outages is cruel and back-breaking as it will affect not only the budget of every household of the country adversely but at the same time impede the industrial growth very badly, resulting in unemployment and increase in prices of commodities.
At this critical phase of socio-economic cataclysm, instead of slashing wasteful expenditure on administration and adopting austerity measures, raising power charges is atrocious.
If the prime minister is really concerned about the ordeal people are going through, he must reconsider this latest increase and in case it is inevitable, then he should allow at least some relief by withdrawing general sales tax which is now being charged in every bill.
To fill the budgetary gap arising out of GST removal, unnecessary administrative expenditure may be curtailed forthwith and austerity measures announced by the PM in the parliament in his maiden speech be implemented in letter and in spirit.
RAFIQUE AHMED SIDDIQUE
Karachi
I FIRST met Faraz at Ahmad Hameedi’s house in Karachi, where one often met literary people and artists. There it was when I met him last. Zohra Nigah (Zohra Apa) had cooked and brought some delicious food and all of us went to a friend of Faraz where Faraz and Zohra Apa recited their poems.
A simple man, generally clad in trousers and a bushshirt, Faraz had no airs, easy to please and was comfortable with everyone. There were two exceptions to this. He liked to hear good spoken Urdu. If he heard low quality of language, he would let it be known. The others were those who took Ghalib lightly. He adored Ghalib. He lost his tempter on the stage in a mushaira when a poet recited a parody on Ghalib.
He had good wit. He was visiting Hyderabad, Sindh, once for a mushaira. Kumar Thadani of the famous Bombay Bakery had thrown a small party. Faraz started having a drink but stopped and called for the bearer, who was a Gahelo from Hala. Apparently the drink was too weak. Faraz said: “Gahelo baba, aap saqi hain ya mashki?”
In the same mushaira in Hyderabad, late Mir Rasool Bakhsh Talpur was the chief guest. Faraz started reciting his verses. He coughed a bit to clear his throat and covering the microphone with his hand he turned to Mir Sahib and softly said: “Ay Rasool — Bakhsh.”
One early morning some young enthusiasts from a Tablighi Jamaat knocked at his door. Faraz came out in his pajamas. As is their wont, they asked him to recite the ‘kalma’. He said: “Why, has it changed?”
He was a good progressive Urdu poet and dreamt of a better world.
Hum ko oos sheher ki tameer ka sauda hai jahan,
Log chun detay hain maimar ko diwar kay saath.
The best that I remember of him is his recitation of the long poem Mahasara (The Siege) on the 1971 military action in East Pakistan. Those were Gen Zia’s days. The audience would not let him go. He read the poem twice and received a long ovation.
Like Iqbal and Faiz, he was comfortable with Persian classics, and like them his mother tongue was not Urdu. He will be missed for a long time.
Haq Maghfirat Karay Ajab Azad Mard Tha.
SYED ROSHAN ZAMIR
Nashville, TN
THE Bambino was the biggest thing that hit the Karachi cinema scene in the 1960s. As a kid I was treated to a late-night show in its top balcony where it was smashing to see ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.
This was the only hall which could project 70mm film, and the only one ever in Karachi, I believe, to have a double balcony. The fact that it was owned by Hakim Ali Zardari made the Sindhis proud, not that they got any discounts on seats! The adjoining Lyric paled in comparison. You just had to go to Bambino for its fine airconditioning and the latest Hollywood fare.
Mr Hakim Zardari became even more famous when his son married into the Bhutto household.
Asif, the son, after eight years in prison is now set to become the president of Pakistan. Even if he withdraws from the race, he will remain the guiding light of Bhutto’s People’s Party.
My friends tell me that that the Swiss courts have just released $60 million which was frozen in Asif Zardari’s accounts. Much earlier there was news that Asif Zardari owned a big mansion in Surrey, and lately an old list of his real estate and other assets has been floating on the Internet.
One cannot be certain about the authenticity of this list. It is clear, though, that even if Asif Zardari inherited the Bambino, he would be as rich as reports claim.
The NRO merely exempts Mr Zardari from corruption charge, it does not excuse him from coming clean about all his assets.
It is necessary that the state and his party demand of Asif Ali Zardari that he declare fully his assets before the two houses of parliament, followed by adequate checking.
(Nawaz Sharif too, when he tries to gain a seat in parliament, should justify his enormous wealth acquired courtesy of Zia’s benevolence.) Mr Zardari must also indicate which of the ones on the Internet list are his and others that are allegedly false entries concocted by agencies to corrupt the democratic process.
DR LILA THADANI
Nawabshah
THIS is apropos of the news item, ‘Kayani attends secret talks with American military’ (Aug 28). I would like to draw the attention of our leader to a few well-know allies of the US and their fate.
Let us start with the Egyptian President Gamal Nassar, who was shot by his own people after Camp David; the Shah of Iran, who was abdicated by US despite his role in the 1979 oil embargo; and lastly Sadam Hussein, who took pleasure in killing his own people to please the US, needless to say his fate is well-known.
In addition to the leaders mentioned above, our own leaders have been no exception, namely Gen Zia, Gen Fazle Haq and recently Gen Musharraf who fell victim to US friendship.
In short, the end-result of US friendship is 6ft under or humiliation to the extent that one prays to be 6ft feet under. Therefore, leaders, “Beware of the curse of US friendship”.
MAKAEL KAKAKHEL
Ontario
THE recent decision to revert our clocks on Oct 31 instead of Aug 31 is irrational.
Considering the fact that this year Ramazan has come in summer, one should realise that daylight saving time (DST) would only make it difficult to fast.
According to DST, we would be completing our fasts around 8pm. Azan for Isha prayers takes place around 9.30.
This would again mean that Taraveehs would go on till 11 to 12 midnight. This is wrong.
It is so ironic that such common sense points are ignored by our decision-makers.
We are already suffering a lot due to loadshedding. Another unfair decision would make our lives more miserable.
The authorities concerned should look into the matter.
SANA KAMRAN
Lahore
(II)
THE government’s decision of not reverting clock on Sept 1 is another example of its ‘turnaround policy’.
It seems that keeping a promise is not its business!
ADEEL RANA
Tandilanwala
THIS is apropos of the news item, ‘Sectarian organisations regrouping in city’ (Aug 25). Our past had been too gory a tale to tell and now it almost seems that Karachiites are in store for reliving it again.
It reminded me of an incident which occurred near the town where I live now and wish to share it with the readers. One early February morning this year, the Islamic Centre of Columbia, in Tennessee, US, became a centre of attention for all.
Three arsonists burned it to ashes — sprayed graffiti on its walls, painted swastikas and hate words. The Muslim community in the area was shocked. This was a hate crime without any doubt.
It never occurred to the Muslims in the area that they would be hated so much by anyone that their place of worship will be torched to ruins.
Sadness was profound while many left in disbelief. This land promised religious freedom and equality.
They felt betrayed. They had never given any reason to anyone to hate them. Peaceful, law-abiding citizens would come there to pray before their God and then disperse uneventfully. But then some apparently did hate them enough to feel compelled to engage in this atrocious act.
For Muslim dwellers of this town, this was more a troubling thought than anything else until what followed, really showed them another aspect of their larger community – a community which was not made up of people of their own faith.
Police took the crime very seriously. The very next day suspects were apprehended, and later charges were filed. And while all the investigations were taking place, at least three local churches came forward to help the Muslims.
Yes, the churches! One offered them space for Friday prayers; another two raised money, about $10,000 reportedly, so the mosque could be rebuilt.
Early this year, a suicide bomber in Peshawar blew himself up in a Shia mosque killing at least three, injuring 20 people. Each year, Shia mosques are targeted, specially during Muharram.
This writer has yet to hear any Sunni organisation/mosque coming forward to help the aggrieved.
Sporadically Shia extremist outfits retaliate too. In Pakistan, responsibility lies on the Sunni community to play a lion’s role in sectarian harmony: the role envisioned by our liberal founder of the nation and guaranteed in the Constitution.
Ideal communal harmony does not seem to be an elusive goal in other parts of the world. Why does it still seem so painfully elusive in Pakistan?
DR OWAIS A. FAROOQI
Memphis, USA
RAMAZAN has already arrived. Although called holy, the month is not at all a pleasing one because of the high prices of food and other items.
On the eve of this holy month I visited a fruit stall for bananas and was amazed to hear the prices. Why has every vendor increased the prices of fruits, especially in Ramazan, in spite of the fact that most of us belong to the middle class who can hardly manage to breathe in this towering inflation?
The lower class, I am sure, is deprived even more of the most basic needs of life and for them it must become very difficult to manage in this vital month.
After Ramazan, preparations for Eid would demand money. We should think about the imbalance in our society. The government should check this unfair price hike now.
ZEHRA BATOOL
Karachi
IT is quite difficult to understand how anti-democratic forces work in our country. Ever since the present government held the reins of an already misgoverned state, these forces created an environment whereby people attached tremendous hopes for miracles to happen, which naturally could not have happened in such a short time.
One wonders why people don’t see through the rulers who come into power through the back door, and end up staying in power for five to 11 years of rule.
Such dictators have misruled the country, bringing a lot of suffering for the people and shaking the very foundation of the state.
Yet they are so not severely criticised by the so-called intelligentsia the way it does in a democratic dispensation. Is the so-called intelligentsia in complete league with those who lick the boots of military dictators?
Criticism should not mean misplaced and immature criticism, as they may end up giving new life to a fading dictatorship, for it may grab an opportunity in haste to let the hanging sword loose upon a democratic dispensation.
The common man needs to gauge the situation with collective and national wisdom as the present rulers have not brought the country to such a vulnerable position and impasse,
— the present government is not responsible for the present food crisis and inflation,
— they have not brought the war of others to the doors of this nation; they have not created a ruling class to exploit and rob the resources of the nation,
— they have not been instrumental in completing the collapse of state institutions and anarchy,
— they have not created fragmentation among society and patronised barbaric jirga system.
Certainly the present rulers have been illegitimately condoned for their misdeeds, but the phenomena of suicide bombings and religious and sectarian intolerance have also flourished.
There is also a long list of mistakes committed by the pro-dictatorial regimes and its functionaries.
We must show patience with the present representative government to judge their performance, else dictators shall strike again and we will have to suffer even more.
A.S. CHANNA
Karachi
I FULLY agree with the views expressed by Hamma Hanif in her letter ‘Respect for teachers” (Aug 30) that in our educational institutions teacher has not been given deference which is due to him.
For this highly distasteful and offensive attitude I will not only blame the students. It is basically society as a whole which has relegated the role of a teacher to subordinate position.
This has now manifested in disregard of such an exalted being in classroom shenanigans as Ms Hamma has very well elucidated in her missive.
The parents procreate a child and provide him food and shelter but it is the teacher who by infusing knowledge not only builds his character but also makes him a useful citizen of the country. This is why the role of a teacher is considered to be more vital in the making of a being into a human being.
In the past, parents and teachers used to make the best of their efforts to provide an atmosphere to their children, congenial to the development of higher virtues and morals. But the gross social change over the last 50 years, large-scale urbanisation, ruthless competition for financial gains, and heavy preoccupation in everyday life depleted all time and energy from the parents, leaving behind little time or energy for their children.
As a result, the younger generation hardly gets any opportunity to share ideas with their elders or to enter into a meaningful discussion as a way of informal education.
Besides, under the changed environment, this idea is gaining ground among us that education is not meant to build up better human beings, but only to get better jobs.
Consequently, the students’ minds are obsessed with better jobs and dreams for higher social status. As a result, moral and religious training of the child has gradually been ousted from the preview of education.
The low priority to education has struck a severe blow to overall education in the country. In the process of low priority and changed value system, social status of the teacher also got affected adversely.
Teaching, which once earned highest respect of society, because of this transformation is now a profession for the mediocre: acceptable when no other job is available to the aspirant.
Thus a teacher, who in the past was a father figure, lost his position in the eyes of pupils, as well as of parents, who consider him as their servant rather than their mentor or reformer.
Even a single flimsy complaint of a child is sufficient to infuriate a parent to thrash the teacher in the presence of the complainant. The net result of all this deterioration is that the value system of our society has fallen into oblivion unlike developed cultures of the West where a teacher is not only the most esteemed individual but is a highly paid professional.
A teacher is the builder of the nation. Therefore, unless he is given honour and respect due to him by the students, parents and society as a whole, we cannot prosper as a nation: politically, economically and socially.
ALTAMASH M. KURESHI
Karachi
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